Helping nature and people thrive – Exploring a biodiversity credit system for Aotearoa New Zealand

Overview

The Government is exploring whether a biodiversity credit system could help to incentivise the protection and restoration of native wildlife in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A biodiversity credit system would help to conserve habitats and species by enabling landowners, who protect and restore native wildlife, to earn credits for their actions.

The Ministry for the Environment and Department of Conservation (DoC) sought feedback on the need for and the design of a biodiversity credit system, and the different roles of government and Māori in implementing it. Our aim is for a system that has impact and integrity, tailored to Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique context and challenges. This includes how it could work with other programmes that support the environment.

Read a short summary of the discussion document [PDF, 1.7 MB]

Read the full discussion document [PDF,  2.7 MB]

More information

Read the summary report prepared by Pollination [PDF, 5.1 MB]

This report outlines recommendations on how to scale investment in biodiversity conservation and enhancement in New Zealand via environmental markets.

Webinar

The Ministry for the Environment and Department of Conservation hosted a webinar where participants had an opportunity to hear more about the potential for a biodiversity credit system.

Watch a recording of the biodiversity credit system webinar [Youtube video]

View the biodiversity credit system webinar slides [PDF, 1.4 MB]

View a summary of the questions and answers from the webinar [PDF, 203 KB]